Benjani Mwaruwari goal not enough

City 2 Fulham 3

MANCHESTER City let a two-goal lead slip to lose against relegation battlers Fulham in a dramatic clash at Eastlands.

Early goals from Steven Ireland and Benjani looked to have set the Blues on their way to victory, but a second-half collapse dented hopes of European qualification.

Diomansy Kamara struck either side of Danny Murphy's effort to stun the City faithful and the watching Thaksin Shinawatra.

The Cottagers began with a sense of purpose and drive but their confidence visibly ebbed away once Ireland had smoothly deposited his wonder strike into the top corner.

There had appeared little immediate danger when Martin Petrov slipped a pass to the young midfielder but Fulham failed to close Ireland down, offering the opportunity to curl a shot goalwards.

Still, Fulham could have hardly expected it to end up being so precise, leaving Kasey Keller no chance of keeping it out.

If that came out of the blue, Benjani’s clinical finish to Darius Vassell’s cutback was fairly predictable, leaving Hodgson to slump in his seat and Thaksin to enjoy his first half of football at Eastlands since the visit of Tottenham six weeks ago.

In his extensive interview with the match programme, Thaksin spoke of a three-year plan that will take City into Europe by the end of next season and the Champions League 12 months later, and Eriksson had harboured hope of delivering part one of the challenge early.

That fading possibility would presumably meet with Thaksin’s approval since it appears the owner is not intent on a major summer spending spree.

Even after City’s early double, Keller continued to be the busier of the two goalkeepers, although opposite number Hart was the more acrobatic.

Hart had already denied David Healy with a superb reaction save just just before the break when he palmed away Jimmy Bullard’s free-kick midway through the second half.

At that point, Fulham looked spent. Yet, from virtually nothing, there were given a new lease of life when Murphy’s long ball found Kamara.

The former West Brom man somehow turned past Vedran Corluka before firing through Hart’s legs.

With the stakes suddenly raised considerably, Hart was required again to keep out a goalbound Bullard free-kick as Fulham strained for the equaliser.

And Fulham were handed the opportunity they craved when Sun Jihai dragged down substitute Eric Nevland 12 minutes from time. Murphy strode up and though Hart saved the former Liverpool man’s first effort, he was helpless to prevent him tapping home the rebound.

The scene was set and the finish was perfect for the visitors as Kamara burst through in the final minute and beat Hart at his near post to give Fulham a priceless win.

Man City: Hart, Elano, Corluka, Ball, Jihai, Vassell (Caicedo 80), Gelson, Johnson, Petrov, Ireland (Geovanni 56), Mwaruwari.
Subs Not Used: Isaksson, Castillo, Logan.

Goals: Ireland 10, Mwaruwari 21.

Fulham: Keller, Stalteri, Hangeland, Hughes, Konchesky, Davies, Bullard, Murphy, Dempsey, Healy (Kamara 64), McBride (Nevland 71).
Subs Not Used: Warner, Bocanegra, Andreasen.

Booked: Dempsey.

Goals: Kamara 70, Murphy 79, Kamara 90.

Att: 44,504

Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).